Regarding the whole Roberts distraction thing.

[grace0418]

I originally wrote this in Skinner's thread about Roberts, but now I really am curious. So read this post and give me your thoughts on the matter, because I could be really oversimplifying or just plain not understanding the situation (I've done it before).

-----------------------------

I take this nomination very seriously, and I hope everyone else does too, for all the reasons you stated. But the GOP is indeed using this as a distraction. The fact that it's incredibly, gravely serious is all the better for BushCo, because it's a far more effective distraction than just about anything else. An already weakened, already divided Democratic party now has to split its focus or risk losing on both fronts. And that's great for BushCo.

So can we push the Rove story and all the WH impropriety to the point that they are under fire? So much that it basically pushes the nomination to the back burner? I mean, isn't going to be easier to fight the nomination if we cast the adminstration as the villians they are, once and for all?

I guess I don't see it working the other way. If we drop the whole Rovegate thing to focus on the nomination, Rove will scurry back under his rock and lie low for awhile until everything is forgotten. And we could still lose the nomination fight. But if we turn our focus on Rove, we *might* be able to kill two birds with one stone.

Or maybe I'm just smoking.

[mzteris]

1. EXACTLY!!!

*** push the Rove story and all the WH impropriety to the point that they are under fire? So much that it basically pushes the nomination to the back burner? I mean, isn't going to be easier to fight the nomination if we cast the adminstration as the villians they are, once and for all?***

I agree with this 100%...... if we push the PLAME thing ('cause I really believe it's bigger than Rove!!) - then the bushco admin gets trashed and discredited and they have no "political capital" left with which to get their rightwingnuts on the court!

[jonnyblitz]

2. i guess what i don't understand is why people don't believe

we can multitask. that one ((((baffles))) me to no end. :shrug:

[bliss_eternal]

6. You aren't the only one, johnnyblitz.

But, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs--whatever they may be. It's cool to just agree that we all disagree and go on with our respective actions, isn't it?

Interesting points, grace. Good to see you! :hi:

[grace0418]

7. Well, because it's been hard enough to get people to

agree on anything. By our very nature as open-minded liberals, it is very difficult to get us to present a united front because there are always those that want to argue the finer points. Brain-dead/washed Repubs have a much easier time with this because they don't think for themselves anyway.

The more the issues get divided, the harder it gets for us. It's possible to multi-task, but every last one of us is going to have to work our asses off.

[Pobeka]

3. Now the story is about the distraction!

Put this in their face. They brought the nomination now to cover up Rove's treason. That they did this for a distraction makes Rove look even more guilty, and makes the nomination a little more dubious.

[ClassWarrior]

4. We can do both. See this thread...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1941401&mesg_id=1941401

And I think you're right - weaken 'em so they can't sustain a nomination.

NNNGU.

[grace0418]

9. I like that.

Imagine that question getting raised. WOW!

[Catherine Vincent]

5. We could do it but it all hinges on the media.

[wishlist]

8. I agree- Dems need to keep Rove on a front burner

The general public still does not understand enough about the national security implications of the Plame leak and the connection to the Downing Street memos and Bushco misleading the country to promote invading Iraq, so I think it is very inportant for Dems to keep the Rove story going.

[goodboy]

10. EXACTLY HOW I FEEL TOO!!! vote

in this poll if you haven't already!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4151184

[H2O Man]

11. Of course it is being used

to distract media attention from the Plame case. To say otherwise would seem to reveal a lack of insight. This does not <1> take away in any sense from the extreme significance of the court issue; or <2> mean that it is intended to "distract" the democratic left. It does indicate how seriously the Plame scandal being in the news wounds the White House.

The only rational choice we have is to fight on both fronts .... because they are in every sense part of the same fight.

[grace0418]

12. Skinner believes it isn't

Which is what brought up this question for me.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4148212

<snip>

This nomination is not a "distraction"
Some people have been arguing that the Roberts nomination is a "distraction" from the Karl Rove affair. This is simply wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. A nominee to the Supreme Court is not a "distraction" from anything. This is as serious as politics can get. The Supreme Court is losing a moderate voice, and the Bush Administration is trying to place an extreme right-wing ideologue in her place. This is a lifetime appointment, for a guy who is only 50 years old! He might be on the court for thirty years.

The effects of placing another conservative on the court are VASTLY MORE SERIOUS than anything that could happen because of this Rove situation. In Rove, we could cripple a GOP Administration for a couple years, tops. In Roberts, there is the potential to change the course of this nation for decades.
And as far as I can tell, the Rove scandal isn't going anywhere. The investigation is still ongoing. And we are all fully capable of focusing on more than one topic at a time.

[H2O Man]

13. People may see it very differently.

However, it would seem impossible to conclude that this hasn't distracted the media's attention in regard to Plame. Without any question, it has.

However, that does not translate into it having to cause the democratic left to be distracted. Actually, quite the opposite. Insightful people are questioning if there is any way that the administration's choice could be defeated? People are looking at the fellow, to see what his positions are that might cause him to be sent packing.

In a time when Bush is strong, the make-up of the Senate would assure the fellow gets seated on the Supreme Court. There, he would set social progress back -- and rapidly. To see him as less than a rattle snake would be an error.

His being seated is based, however, on two things: how acceptable he is, plus how strong Bush is. It should go without saying, but unfortunately seems to be missed by some, that the route to defeating this nominee involves knee-capping the administration with Plame.

If we think back to Clinton, it should be obvious to all that a president dealing with a scandal can't do anything that requires power in other areas.

Recognizing the reality -- the president is 100% certainly using this to distract the media -- in no way takes away from the significance of the court issue, or the Plame issue. We are able to begin to turn almost everything in our favor, if we take the correct approach.